Strip material take-up



Aug. 19, 1941. J. G. JONES EN. 2,253,076

y STRIP MATERIAL TAKE-UP Y Filed Oct.- 28, 1939 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 A TTORNE YS J. G. JONES ETAL STRIP MATERIAL TAKE-UP y Aug. 19, 1941.

Filed OCC. 28,\l959 l 6 SheetS-Sheet 2 "JOHN G. JONES MLCM P. MWS

IN VENT ORS @w/ll ATTORNEYS wb Q ,mw 4 ,M www 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 J. G. JONES TAL STRIP MATERIAL TAKEUP Filed oct. 2s, i959 /fos m m W .Ji-L- f- ATTORNEYS sm am mm ,JM

Aug. 19, 1941.

ug.'19, 941. J, G, JONES TAL 2,253,076

STRIP MATERIAL TAKE-UP l Filed 0G13. 28, 193g 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG.`13.` F1614. FIG. 15. FIGJ.v

JOIV GJONES M4LCOLM P. DAWS mVENToRS sai ` A09 19, 1941- .L G. JONES ETAL A y 2,253,076

STRIP MATERIAL TAKE-UP Filed oct. 28, 1939 e sheets-sheet 6 J@ G-JUNES IN VEN TORS FIG .12.

A TTORNE YS MALCULM pmx/1S Patented Aug. 19, 194

UNITED sTATEs PATENT "o1-*FICEl 2,253,076 s'mn MATERIAL TAKE-Ur John G. Jones and Malcolm I. Davis, Rochester, N. Y., assignors to Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application october 2s, 1939, serial No. 301,855

(ci. zii- 2.1)

20 Claims.

from a supply roll and is wound up" or removed on another roll. When the supply roll is exhausted, some time is required to remove the core thereof and substitute a new supply roll of material, therefore a'surplus must be arranged within the 4machine near the input end'.

that may be drawn on during the change-over to a full or new roll. Conversely, means must l be provided for taking up the strip near the output end, building up a surplus that may be drawn out when a new winding core is placed to receive it and .the full roll is removed. In either case there is no interruption to the movement of the strip through the various treating stages.

It is an object of this invention to provide a construction applicable to either an input (supply) end of a coater, dryer, etc., orto the output (winding) end thereof, which will be positive4 in action, readily adjustable, and of comparatively simple design. It is a further object to provide also an automatic threading device which will eliminate theA tedious and difficult method of manually guiding the incoming end of a strip of material over the various rolls and spools in successive sections of a machine. The threading device in the present invention is also provided with means whereby the incoming end of the strip may be transferred automatically from one section of a machine to another, without attention from anoperator, to advance the strip from a drying section to a .take-up section, for instance. tages of the invention will appear from the following specification, when read with reference to the accompanying drawings,` in which like reference characters designate like parts throughout, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic longitudinal elevation of a take-up` and wind-up section of a strip material handling machine constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of our invention;

Fig. 2 is a part of a. similar view, wholly dia-` grammatic, of a modified form of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 and illustrative oi' another embodiment of our invention;

Fig. 3 is a larger-scale exterior elevation oi the take-up mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional elevation on line 4-4 of Fig. 3; y

Fig. 5 is a partial exterior view, showing part of the machine which wouid appear 1r Fig. 3

were extended toward the right;

Figs. Gand 7 are fragmentary portions of Fig. 4. lenlarsed;.` e 1f Y Fig. 8 is a portion, in top plan, of one side of the take-up section, taken on line 8-8 of Figs. 3 and 4;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary section of a guide roller and its mounting;

Fig. 10 is an elevation, partly in section, showing a portion of the area covered by Fig. 5, and

enlarged;

Fig. 11 is an elevation looking from the right side of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a plan in section, on line |2-l2 of Fig. 10;

Figs. 13 and 14 are fragmentary axial sections of the strip transfer device or lead bar;

Figs. 15 and 16 ,are plan and elevation views of the clamping jaws at one end of the lead bar;

1'1 is a section on ii-ll of Fig. 14;

l?. is a. detail in section on line IB-IB of Fig. l5;

19 and 20 are views similar to Figs. 10 and il, respectively, showing amodiflcation of the transfer mechanism;

Other objects and advan- Figs. 21 `and 22 are views of a detail shown in 19, the parts being in two different positions; and Fig. 23 is a diagrammatic cross section of the transfer mechanism showing the condition oi the parts prior to the equalizing action.

In the machine illustrated herewith there are l spaced side frames between which the web, or strip S of lm paper or fabric may be moved for threading by means of endless belts, the latter being guided and driven on flanged pulleys or rollers within and close to the side frames. A plurality of rollers support the strip material in a long path, the material being looped as at L about the rollers. A transfer device or lead- `bar of particular design, as hereinafter described, is adapted to grip these belts and to 23 and a `driven pulleyl cluster 21 and then` return to the dryer at 28. It is to be understood that these belts are endless, and are identical on opposite sides of the machine.

In thetake-up section of the machine, illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 1, endless belts 23 and 29a adjacent the side frames 30 are moved by a drive cluster 3| and travel continuously over a series of'idler pulleys 32 on the.I

bottom rails of the frames 30 and overyothers, 32a near 'the lower edges 'of elevators 33. 'I'he latter are adapted to be moved by vertical feed screws 34 from an upper position as in Fig. A1 to a lowered position near the bottom of the machine as in'Fig. 3.

In Fig. 1 the elevator 33 is shown in its upper position, but on the take-,up or final section of the machine which is illustrated herewith the elevator is normally at the lower limit of its travel as in Fig. 3, and-is only raised when a new length of strip material is to be threaded through bymeans of the lead-bar.

The 4elevator 33 is power operated by a motor as, which, through reduction gearingas, shafts 31 and 38, miter gears 39 and a transverse shaft 40 will turn feed screws 34 on both sides of the machine in unison, thereby also maintaining the elevator level during its movement. Limit switches |50 and |5I at the upper and lower extremes respectively of the elevator movement are adapted to-be operated when contacted by the elevator and lwill thereby stop motor 35 vwhenever the elevator is raised or lowered beyond a predetermined point."

When the elevators 33 are in the upper position the upper runs of -belts 29 and 29a pass over flanged idlers 32h, arranged in pairs near the tops of the elevators, and also over idlers 32e on the top rails of the machine frames 30. Cenj tered on these pairs of idlers are two series of freely revoluble rollers, adapted to carry the `strip material S, one set 4| being pintled in the upperV rails of the machine frames 30 and the other series 42 being revoluble in brackets 43 that project inwardly from a iloating roll frame Vor take-up members 44 co-extensive with .the elevator 33. Thisoating frame is partially counter-balanced by weights 46, so that it-has only a moderate downward pull on lthe loops L of the strip material. The weights are made in sections as'shown in Figs. 3 and 4 so as to be variable, and are attached to the iioating frame 44 by chains or cables 45 .that run over sheaves 41 onthetop frame rails 30 and are anchored to the frame 44 at 43. (Figs. 6 and 7.) ,Vertical guide members 49 of channel section (Fig. 8)

restrict any tendency of the weights 45 'to os-4 cillate,and these guides also provide vertical rails 43a on which4 guide wheels 50 may run, to restrain the floating frames 44 against longitudinal movement In order to assure absolutely parallel amicoincident vertical travel of the take-up member means not shown,

44, shafts 5| are carriedin suitable bearings on o said member and are provid .'i at their extremities with pinions 52 that mesh with vertical racks a 53 extending between the upper. and lower rails not tend'to crowd the strip material to `one side` or theother.

In Fig. 2 is shown, diagrammatically, a modifled form of take-up inwhich the elevator is divided into a number of short sections 56 and corresponding take-up members 51. these short elevators would,-in such case, be operated by its individual feed screw (not shown) with separate controls, so that the operator could provide for taking up any quantity of the strip required, by lowering one or more of the short elevator sections.

During the downward movement of the elevator 33 the endless belts 29 and 29a are also drawn into loops. The relative movement of idlers 32a with'v respect to idlers 32 on the bottom rail of frame 3|! compensates for the relative movement of idlers 32b and 32o, therefore the tension of the belts is undisturbed'in any position of the elevator. Y l

As above mentioned, the elevator 33 is normally at the bottom of its travel as in Fig. 3. The take-up member 44,is supported on short loops or the strip material, and is held up by the tension of the strip near its uppermost limit of movement. Means, later to be described, are

provided whereby an increasing tension on the strip slows its movement and a decreasing tension speeds it up, so that long loops L will be drawn down for a take-up reserve only if the feed mechanism which is pulling the strip along is stopped.

When the strip has entirely filled the wind-up roll and it becomes necessary to change over to a new core, the operator stops the winding mech-v anism. I'he strip continues to be fed in by the mechanism on the un-winding or input end. Immediately, the floating take-up 44 overcomes the weights 45 and moves downwardly, drawing. 'out the loops L to provide a surplus of strip material which must be taken up after the end 85. Belts l|52 drive the arch rolls 6| while the' belts 29 and 23a run over pulleys 50. 'I'hese suction arches are fully shown and described in the patent to J.

G. Jones, No. 1,560,579, dated Nov. 10, 1925.

The strip material S which is brought into the take-up section in a manner later to be de-. scribed, after traversing the suction arch 2l isled over a tension roll'51 and thence to the` windup stand 39. Two or more core spindles 1I and 1| vare arranged to be separately driven by so that when one is nearly full the suction arch- 53 may be stopped as previously described, permitting the floating frame 44 to draw out the loops L from the incoming strip S 'whilethe full roll of material onspindle 13 Each of attached to the empty core at 1|. During normal winding the speed of suction arch 59 is varied by automatic meansin accordance with the position of take-up frame 44. In the present in` stance a "carbon pile type of rheostat |55 (Fig. 3) is mounted on the machine frame 55 and vits plunger |55 is arranged to be actuated by a lever |51 whenever the frame M, nearingy the top of its travel, lifts a pad |55. The carbon pile device then reduces the current fed to motor 95 and the arch 59 slows down. Immediately the frame 44 drops and begins to draw out loops L. When the frame drops a predetermined amount, the

Ipad .|55 having followed it and the lever |51 having permitted the plunger ofthe device |55 to emerge again, the amount of current through motor 55 is increased and the arch `59 speeds up, thus raising the frame 44 through the increased ,tension on the strip. A fine degree of end of the clamp toward the belt, as in the broken lines', Fig. 15.

The clamp jaws 15 do not themselves actually grip the belt, but are positively brought to a stop by a block 55 that contacts the tongue. 11, and which is of such a thickness that the faces of the jaws are held about 11; inch from the belt suriace. The actual gripping is accomplished by a pressure pad 91 which is slidably mounted on an inclined pin 59 (Fig. 18) and is urged along the pinby a spring 59. The purpose of the inclined mounting is tov compensate for inequalities, humps or thicker spots in the belts, and to permit a slight slippage of the lead bar as these conditions occur, and to assure that the two clamp members on opposite ends of tube 15 will grip the belts with equal force. Lugs 99 on the inner 'faces of jaws-15 enter mating apertures 9| control is maintained by the use of the carbon,

pilerlieostat, so that a state of balance is achieved in which the frame M fluctuates but a fraction of an inch during normal operation, as long as the input of material continues at a uniform rate.- i

Manual control for the-motor. 55 is also provided, but is not shown in detail in the drawings. Y

The mechanism whereby the incoming end of the strip is fed through the take-up section and along to the wind-up core is illustrated in Figs.

10 to 18., -As previously described, .the belts 29 travel in unison close to the inside of the frames and are endless. Similar belts in adrying section or in any other auxiliary strip treating division of a machine may be arranged in like manner. To advance the lead end of a strip a lead-bar" is provided to which lthe end of theV strip is attached, and this bar has grippers which clamp it to the traveling belts. Means are var.

ranged at the input end of each machine section' for disconnecting ,the lead bar or unclamping it from one set of dbelts and clamping it onto the succeeding belt, all without any attention from the operator, so that the strip S may progress uninterruptedly through the entire machine.

The lead bar is constructed of a tubular member .15, in the ends of which are fastened slotted castings 19. Each of the latter (Figs. 15 and 16), has a terminal tongue 11 located-on the center line of the tube 'l5 and nat on both sides. A duplex clamp member or jaw 15 is pivoted at 19 and is adapted to be flipped tothe position shown in full lines in Fig. 15, where the belt 29 is held between the part 11 and one end of the member 15, from the position indicated in broken lines, l

where the belt 25 coming from another section of the machine is held between the tongue 11 and the other end of memb'er 15.

An ear on the back 'of clamp 15 is pivotally 'connected with a clevis 5| on theouter end of a pushA rod 52. The free end of the push ro'd is guided in a block 59, trunnioned at 55 in the casting 19. A spring 54 based on the block 9 5 constantly presses 4the clevis 5| toward the ear 55 and thus forces oneend of the clamp 15 toward belt 29. The clamp may be disengaged and swung about the pivot 19 by mechanism later to be described, and when .the neutral point of this movement has been reached, i. e.,l when both ends of the `clamp are winged out at a right angle to 'the axis of the tube 15, a very slight further movement permits the spring 54 to snapthe other in the tongue 11 and establish a frame outside of both edges of belts 29 so that the lead bar` cannot move transversely of the machine.

The lead bar 15 itself does not engage the incoming end of the strip material S, but carries an auxiliary "stick 92, preferably of wood, and substantially square in cross section, around which the operator wraps the starting end of the strip as at 93 in'Fig. 17. Square retaining members 94 with open ends are then slipped over the inner ends of the cables being attached to a spring 91 anchored at 95.v 'I'he arrangement of f the cables is such that`any pull of the strip S on the stick 92, whether or not it is uniform through its entire width, will be equalized and will result in a uniform stress on each of the belts 29, or,

conver ely, any inequalities in the resistance met by the lead bar in passing over the pulleys will not result in a distorted or angular stress on the strip, but will permit the latter to be pulled straight through the machine without tending to become cramped or wrinkled.

The stick-and-cable arrangement has another and important function, viz., to permit the strip of material S to follow the path around the rollers Il and 42, while the lead-bar 15 travels a different path with belts 29 and 29a, over idlers 92,

32a and 92h. As these paths are not coincident, some flexible compensation must be provided. and the spring' 91 accomplishes this purpose, permitting thestick 92 to move from and toward the bar 15 ateach turn around the rolls and pulleys. i With the Jaws 15 closed correspondingly on both ends of the lead bar 15, and the pressure pads 99 gripping the belts 29 and 29o, the lead bar moves with the belt andthe back faces of the jaws 19 as indicated in Fig. 15 ride over the flanges of the idler pulleys 52e and 32h, while the stick 92 trails slightly behindand carries the strip material F over the rolls 4| and 42. In succession,l the bar 15 andthe stick 92 pass over the suction arch 59, thence to the wind-up station at 19 or 1|.

The manner in which the transfer of the lead bar 15 and stick 92 from belts 25 to belts 29 is accomplished is best shown in Figs. 10, 11 and 12, and will now be described. Assume that the lead bar is clamped to belts 2 5 and has progressed past the lower idlers 25 that are adjacent the driven `pulleys 21 (Figs. 1 and 5). It. will be noted that ing spaced slightly more than the thickness of the tongue 11.

Practically touching the belt 25 is the sharp lower edge 99 of a cam memberl |00 (Fig. 10)

that has an inwardly curved edge |0| terminating in a flat top |02, and supported on a xed bracket |03.l If now the lead stick can continue to move with the belts 29 and the edge 99 enters between the closed jaws 18 and the belts 25 (cams are duplicated on opposite sides of the machine), the jaws 18 will be swung past the neutral point and the springs 84 will snap the jaws to the otherl extreme of their movement, causing the pads 81 to grip the belts 29 and travel therewith. Obviously, however, the moment the jaws 18 are pried away from the belts 25 by the points 99 of the cams |00, they will lose their grip on the belts and the lead bar would fall unless otherwise supported. Therefore, mechanism is provided which will catch, hold,

= and move the lead bar -during the time the jaws 18A are being reversed by the cam |00. As considerable power is required to reverse the ,clamp i jaws 18 against the pressure of spring84, the

mechanism for forcing'the lead bar againstand past the cam I 00 must be positive and rugged. Similar mechanism is employed between any two adjacent treating sections of the machine where the carrying belts return. The mechanism above mentioned is constructed as follows:

Suitably supported on the frame are parallel grooved bars |04 (Fig. 11), between which a carrier` member |05 is guided in a vertical path by rollers |06. Extending toward the belt" 25 from this carrier is a stake |01 on which is mounted a hollow rectangular lifter member |08, so asjto be slidable toward or away from the belt. A portion |09 of the lifter has its top removed,v so that a channel-shaped pocket ||0 protrudes, as clearly shown in Fig. l0, adapted to .engage the tongue 11.

Adjacent the lifter member |08 is a chain running over sprockets' H2 and H3. the latter being driven intermittently. 4A pin ||4 con- Anects the chain withthe lifter member |08. If

now the chain is moved as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 11, the lifter |00 will travel in and up, .and then out and down', and the carrier |05 also will move up anddown as permitted by "the guide rollers |06, during one complete circuit of the chain I.

The sprocket ||3 is on a shaft ||5 that is arranged to be /so driven that the chain will make one complete cycle and then stop, that is, the pin ||4 will start from the position shown in Fig. 11, pass around the lower sprocket ||2 of shaft |21 is of such a length that as the tongue l taneously, the lifter |08 is retracted by the movement of pin ||4 over the top of sprocket H3, and the lead stick then progresses on belts 29, up over suction arch 58, carrying with it the strip by means ofthe stick 92.. 'Ihe strip material meets the suction arch rolls 6| while the-belts 29 and the. lead bar are above it. 'The pin H4 and the litfter |08 then return to their starting points and s op.

The intermittent movement of the chain as above described is accomplished in the following manner: arch 58 is connected through mlter gears ||6 and spur gears ||6a with av horizontal shaft ||1 (Fig. 5), that extends to the drive cluster of pulleys 21, and drives the latter through gears ||8. Shaft ||1, through chains ||9 and |20, positivelyand constantly drives a shaft |2| concentric with shaft ||5, and through spiral bevel gears |22 in a casing |23 drives a cross shaft |24 which is similarly connected to a shaft and chain assembly like ||5 and on the opposite side of the machine, and not shown in the drawings. A clutch and detent in casing |23 are arranged to engage the shaft ||5 upon the momentary application of compressed air and to stop the shaft at va predetermined vpoint-viz., at the end of one cycle of the chain HI.f As this is a commercial device of widel application and in common use, it is not illustrated in detail. Anv

Vdevice through a stop-clock |26, in accordance with the position of the lead bar.

A shaft |21 supported in bracketsl |33 on the frame 30 has at its outer end apresser arm |28 provided with an adjustable set-screw |29 that contacts and depresses the button 30 when the shaft is turned a few degrees in the direction indicated in Fig. 10.-, To depress the button |30 at the correct time, an arm |3| on the inner end 11 of the lead bar 15 strikes it, the arm will move from the lower position to the upper position (Fig. 10) and will hold the button |30 depressed only as long as the tongue 11 is passing the end and up the inner' run of the chain, over the sprocket 3 and then will stop on its downward movement vwith the outer run of the chain, at the point where it started. The liften member |08, by reason of its connection to the chain by pin ||4, must describe a path having the form of thechain. whereas the carrier |05 is conned to a vertical path by the rollers |06 in the grooved.

bars |04. Therefore the lifter first Irlioves down, then inwardly, then up to engage the lead bar. The pocket ||0 receives the end of the lead bar tongue 11, and just as the cam edge 994pries the Jaw 18 and pressurepad 81 away from the belt 25,. the tongue 11 is caught inthe pocket ||0 and the lead bar is moved upwardly. As it moves, the cam |00 reverses the jaw clamp 18 as previously of the arm |3I.

A spring within the cock |26 immediatelythereafter elevates the button |80 and closes the cock; restoring the arm I 3l to the vlower position. 'This single shot of air is all that is 'required to release the mechanism in casing |23 wherebyl the chain is removed throughone complete cycle.

InFigs. 19'to 23 mechanism is shown in which means' .are provided for levelling or squaring the lead-bar 15 if it should become misaligned or' biased because of irregular or unequalized action of the belts 29 on opposite sides of the machine described, and the opposite end of the clamp snaps ontobelt 2 8,`pinching the latter between the tongue 11l and the pressure pad 81.Y Simulior because of any slippageof one end of the bar on the belts.

'Ihe principal dierence between the arrangement previously described and that shown diagrammatically inl Fig. 23 is that in the latterthere are two air cocks, |35 and |36, in a single air line, each ccckeperable by an arm adapted to be moved by one end of the lead bar. If one end of the bar is in advance of the other, as indicated at Aj, one air cock, for instance |35, will be opened but as the second cock |38 cannot be opened to 4operate the clutch device until the other end R of the bar "catches up" to it (the rst end being held by; means to be described) it is obvious that the bar will be leveled before it can be caught up by the lii'ter` |08.

Referring to Figs. 41.9 and 20, it will be seen The shaft 64 that drives the suction that the mechanism here illustrated is similar to Figs. and `1l, and identical parts in all these figures have corresponding reference numerals. The arm |31 however extends somewhat further over the tongue 11, and is in contact with a lever |33, pivoted at |40, and urged in a clockwise direction about the pivot by a spring |4|. A suitable stop, not shown, prevents the spring |4| from moving the lever further than its position in Fig.A 19.

When the end of the bar that is in the lead (the left end in Fig. 23) strikes the arm |31, it causes the button |30 to be depressed by the arm |23 and thus opens the air cock |35, but air cannot ilow to the clutch device |23 because cock |35 is still closed. The tongue 11 strikes the roller |42 and swings the arm |31, against ,I

the resistance of spring |4I, to the position of Fig. 2l. At this pointthe resistance ofy spring |4| overcomes the grip of pad 31, and the belt 23 slips, the belt 23a on the opposite side of the machine meanwhile continuing to carry the end R. of the bar 15 along. This endoi the bar (the tongue 11) raises the arm |33 and air cock |33 is operated, permitting air to flow to the clutch device |23. The latter then drives the chain and the lifters |03 immediately engage both tongues 11 and th'e bar 15, now level, is carried upwardly. As the bar 15 and the lifters |03 move further, the arms |31 and |38 vand the lever |33 are pushed aside to the positions shown in Fig. 22,\and return to their normal positions as soon as the bar and lifter have passed them.

When the end `of a run" of strip materialy is reached, or when it is desired to withdraw all of the strip so that' the machine may be cleaned, adjusted orv inspected, the tail end of the strip enters the taking section'and passes oil.' from one after the other of the rollers 4| and 42. Eventually the frame 44, having no more loops of the strip material to support it, sinks to the bottom of its'travel and comes to rest on the top of the elevator 33. A gravity-operatedjbrake, not shown in the drawings, prevents the frame 44 from dropping too rapidly. When the frame 44 nears its lower limit a lug on the frame strikes a switch |30, thereby closing a circuit which` -starts motor 35. The latter` immediately raises ply. It is also possible for the operator to stop the machine and splice or cement the end of a new incoming strip to the end of an outgoing strip, as for instance when there are several small rolls fed in and it is desired to have only one large roll at the output end. Also,` provision is made for maintaining the strip material parallel to the side frames of the machine and preventing it from creeping toward one side or the other, so that interruptions to the output are reduced or entirely eliminated. It is possible to modify the various ,elements of the machine, both as to design and sequence of operation, without departingvfrom thel scope of the invention as it is set forth in the following claims.

We claim:

1. A machine for handling' strip material having, in combination, a frame, an elevator movable in the frame, a floating take-up -member adapted to be lifted by the elevator and to descend by gravity, transverse rollers on the take- Vup member and on the frame to receive thestrip,

and means for maintaining the take-up member normal to the frame. l

2. -A machine for handling strip material having, in combination, a frame, an elevator mov- 40/on the frame and arranged tansversely thereof the elevator 33 andthe take-up frame 44 to the upper limit, ready for threadinga new strip around the rollers 4| and 42 wheny the lead bar is introduced or transferred to the take-up section. When the elevator has completed its upward travel, the switch is contacted and the circuit through motor' 35 is broken. The elevator remains in the upper position on the feed screws 34. y

The lead bar 15 then follows around the rollers `4| and 42, carrying the new strip of material with it, the lead bar being removed by the operator when it has emerged at the wind-up station.

After the-lead bar passes suction arch 53 it strikes a switch (not shown), which closes a reversing circuit of motor 35 and the elevator is again lowered, while the frame 44 remains suspended on to receive a strip of material, an elevator substantially co-extensive with said frame, mechanism for elevating and `lowering the elevator, a iioating take-up member normally supported by the strip material and adapted to be lifted by the elevator when the latter is elevated, rollers on the take-up member in staggered relation to the' rollers on the frame, and counter-weights lighter than the take-up member, so that the latter will move downwardly by gravity when the lelevator is in a loweredposition whereby the rollers on the take-up member may draw down loops from a strip of material passing through the take-up.

4. A machine for handling strip material, having, in combination, a frame, rollers mounted i thereon and arranged transversely thereof to rethe loops L of the vstrip and is controlled thereafter by the carbon-pile rheostat |55 acting on 'the drive of the suction arch 53 (motor 35) as before described. The elevator remains stopped at the bottom of its downward movement after it has contacted switch lll, which 'breaks' the reversing circuit of motor 35.-'

From the foregoing it will be seen that the machine illustrated herewith enables a strip of ceive a strip of material, an elevator substantially co-extensive with said frame, ymechanism for raisingand lowering the elevator, a take-up member adapted to be lifted by the elevator when the latter is elevated, rollers on the take-up member in staggered relation to the rollers on the frame, counter-weights for the take-up member so arranged that the latter may move downwardly independently of the elevatorrand. may follow thevelevator downward by gravity, and means for maintaining the take-up member level throughout its movements. l

5. A machine forhandling strip material having a frame provided-with 4spaced Vupper and lower members, a series of idler pulleysmounted material which mayl be continuously produced o n each of said members. rollers revoluble in the upper member or theframe and located between successive pairs of said idler pulleys, an elevator,

`raising and lowering mechanism for the elevator,

. 6. A machine for handling strip material having a frame, belt pulleys and rollers mounted on l said frame, an elevator, belt pulleys mountedon the elevator, operating mechanism for the elevator, a floating take-up member adapted tov be raised by the elevator, rollers carried by said a leader bar having means for carrying one end of`a strip oi' material, said leader bar also being provided with gripping Jaws to engage said belts, whereby the strip of material may be led around the iilm rolls, and-means for disengaging thev Jaws from the belts.

7. A machine for handling strip material, hav-` lng, in combination, a frame, a plurality of rollers mounted on the frame, an elevator mounted to move relative to the frame, a iioating take-up member, positioned to be engaged and moved by the elevator, a plurality oi rollers carried by the take-up member, means for threading strip material about the rollers in a series oi.' loops includingV a leader bar adapted to be attached to the strip material and including belts "for supporting and moving the leader bar, and means for guiding the belts through a path approximately adjacent to the path oi' strip material passing over said rollers regardless of the position of the rollers carried by the take-up member relative to the rollers carried by the'frame.

8. Amachine for handling strip material, having, in combination, a frame, a plurality ot rollers supported" by the frame, an elevator mounted to move relative to the frame, a floating take-up member, positioned to be engaged and moved by the elevator, a plurality of rollers carried by the take-up member, means for threading strip material about the rollers in a series of loops in'- cluding a leader bar adapted to be attached to the strip materialand including belts for supporting and moving the leader bar, said belts having a nxed length, a plurality or pulleys arranged in one set for guiding the belts through substantially the same path as the path of thev strip material passing over said rollers, and a plurality of pulleys. arranged in a second set for supporting portions of the belts, said pulleys being so arranged that the belts maybe supported'in all positions oi said elevator.

9. A machine vfor handling strip material, having in/c'ombination, a frame, a plurality of rollers supported by the frame, an elevator mounted to move relative to the frame, a noating take-up member, a plurality l`of rollers carried by the take-up member, means i'or threading strip material about the rollers in a series oi loops including a leader bar adapted to be attached to the elevator for supportingsaid belts in all positions of said elevator. v

10. A machine for handling strip material, having, in combination, a frame, a plurality o! rollers. supported by the" frame, an elevator mounted to move relative to the frame. a iloating take-up member, a plurality 'oi' rollers carried by the take-up member, means for threading strip material about the rollers in a series of loops l member, belts adapted to run on said belt pulleys,

including a leader bar adapted to be attached to the 'strip material and `including belts for supporting and moving the leader bar, saidbelts having a fixed length, a plurality oi pulleys arranged in one set for guiding the belts through substantially the same path as the path of the strip material passing over said rollers, and a plurality of pulleys arranged in a second set, some mounted on said elevator and others mounted on said frame, said belts being arranged in a plurality of loops over-said pulleys, whereby movement ot the elevator to shorten the loops of stripl material passing over the rollers may also shorten the belt loops lying close to the path of the strip material and lengthen the loop oi the belts passing over the second set of pulleys whereby saidV belts may be properly guided in all positions of the elevator.

11. AA machine for handling strip material, having, in combination, a frame, al plurality of rollers supported by the frame, an elevator mounted to move relative to the frame, a iloating take-up member, a plurality of rollers 'carried on the take-up member, means' for threading strip material about the, rollers in a series of loops including a leader bar adapted to be attached lto the strip material and including belts for supporting and. moving the leader bar, and guiding pulleys for the belts arranged in two sets, one set lying substantially adjacent the path ofthe looped strip material passing over the rollers, some oi the pulleys being revolubly carried by the frame and others being revolubly carried by the elevator, the other set also comprising pulleys carried revolubly by the frame and others carried by the elevator, whereby lengthening the belt passing over one set of pulleys automatically shortens the belt passing over the other set oi pulleys.

having, in combination, a frame, a plurality of rdllers carried on the trame, an elevator mounted to move relative tothe frame, a floating take-up member, a plurality of rollers carried on the takeup member, means for threading strip material about the rollers in a series of loops including a leader bar adapted to be attached to the strip material and including'belts for supporting and moving the leader bar, guiding Pulleysior the belts arranged in two groups, one group oi pulleys guiding the belts through paths adjacent the path of the strip material, the other group guid- Y ing the belts through paths removed 4from the stripma'terial and including belts for supporting and moving the leader bar, said belts having a nxed length, a plurality o! pulleys arranged in one-set for guiding the belts through substantially the same'path as the path of the strip material passing over said rollers,and`a plurality of pulleys arranged in a second set,v some mounted on a fixed support and others supported on said path of the strip material, each group of pulleys including pulleys mounted on the elevator andy pulleys mounted on the frame'about which the belts are looped whereby movement of the, elevatorcauses one set oi' loops to increase in length; as the second set of loops decreases in length. and;

power means for shifting the elevator relative to the frame. e

13. A machine for handling strip material. having in combination, a trame, a plurality of rollers supported by the frame, an elevator mounted to move relative to the trame, a iloating plurality ot rollers supported on the take-up member, means for threading strip material about the rollers in a series of g one group oi pulleys guiding the beltsthroughV paths adjacent the path of the strip material, the other group guiding the belts through paths removed from the path of the strip material, each group of pulleys including pulleys mounted on the elevator and pulleys mounted on theframe about which the belts are looped whereby movement of the elevator causes one set of loops to increase in length as the second set of loops decreases in length, power operated screwsl carried by the frame and nuts on the elevator engagingr the screws ywhereby said elevator may be moved on the frame to vary the lengths of the loops of strip material supported by the rollers. 14. A machine for handling3 strip material having, in combination, a trame, a plurality of rollers on the frame for guiding strip material, an elevator mounted to move relative to the frame, power mechanism for the elevator, a float-v ing take-up above the elevator and having a set of rollers to receive and to guide strip material being mounted on the .frame and another group mounted on the elevator, a lead bar for threading.` the strip material about the rollers, means on the lead bar for gripping the driving belts and the end yof the strip material, means for transferring the lead bar from a preceding section of the machine to the take-up section. and means for stopping, and holding one portion oi' the -strip material, whereby the latter may be drawn into loops by the floating take-up when the elevator is in a lowered position. 18. A machine for handling strip materialhaving, in combination, a frame, a plurality o! looped about the rollers in' the frame and the rollers on the'iloating take-up, pulleys .on the elevator and on the vframe to receive driving belts, counter-weights for the floating take-up, means on'the take-up for maintaining the latterI normal to the frame in any position, and means for holding a portion oi vthe strip material against movement. v

15. A machine ,for handling strip material, having, incombination, a fra-me, driving belts adjacent to said frame, a plurality of `rollers on the frame adapted to guide strip material, Lpulleys adapted to receive the driving belts, an elevator movable relative to the trame, said elevator also having pigleys to receive said belts, means for positively raising or lowering the elevator, a iloating take-up adapted to be raised by the elevator `and to be lowered by gravity, said take-up having a series of rollers to receive strip material, and means for holding a portion of the strip material against movement, whereby the iloating take-up maydr'aw strip material into loops as it descends after the elevator-has been lowered.

16; A machine for handling strip materialhaving,.in combination, a frame, driving 'belts ad- Y jacent said frame, rollers on the frame adapted f whereby said elevator may raise the take-up to normal position. s 1'1. A machine ior handling strip material lhaving in combination, a frame, a plurality-oi rollers'on the frame adapted to receive loops ofstrip material, a'floating take-up, similar lrollers'mounted on the take-up. to receive strip material, whereby said materialnormally supports the take-up, an elevator adapted to liit the takeup to normal position, aseries of pulleys and' driving belts therefor. one-group o! said4 pulleys rollers mounted on the frame adapted to receive loops of strip material, a'floating take-up member, similar rollers mounted on thev take-up member in staggered relation to the rollers on the frame, means for maintaining the take-up member normal to the frame, a power driven elevator adapted to lift the take-up member, driving belts parallel with the frame, driving' and driven pulleys Vfor saidY belts on the irame and on the elevator respectively, a lead bar for threading strip material about the rollers and having means forgrlpping said material and said belts,

`means for transferring the, lead bar from one section of thel machine to an adjacent section, and means for stopping and holding one portion of the strip material, whereby the @latter is l drawn into loops by the iloating take-up when the elevator'is in `a lowered positiom 19. A machine for handlingstrip material having, in combination, a frame. a power driven elevator movable ,in the iframe, a iloating counterweighted` take-up member adapted to be raised by the elevator and to be lowered by gravity, rollers on the take-up and on the frame,

said rollers being arranged to receive strip material, belt pulleys, carried by the frame and the elevator, driving belts arranged on the pu1` leys, a leader bar for introducing one end of the strip material into the machine including a compensating member whereby the strip material may follow a path :about the rollers as the leader bar follows a path about theV pulleys,`

means on the leader bar for gripping said belts,l means for disengaging the leader bar from said belts and for causing the gripping means to engage belts on another portion of the machine',

and'means for holding a portion of the strip material against movement whereby said oating take-up may move to take up strip material.

20. A machine forhandlingstrip material having, in combination, a44 parallel side frames, a

e frame, and

series of idler pulleys mounted on said trames' and arranged in pairson one portion of the frames and singly on anotherportion thereof, a power-driven elevator substantially co-extensive with the framesfidler pulle'ys ori-said elevatr, one setof said idler pulleys being arranged in pairs and another set arranged singly, a set of driven pulleys, endless belts carried by the driven pulleys and lthe idlers, a iioating take-,up Vframe above the elevator, rollers for strip material on said frame, said rollers being centered f on the pairs of pulleys ori the elevator, a second set of rollers centered on the pairs of pulleys Aon the frame, and means for controlling' the movement of the floating take-up frame in accordance with the speed-oi the strip material JOHN c+. LJoints. i

MALCOLM P. Davis. 

